The Madison Police Department released a report last week evaluating the effectiveness of Halloween policing actions during the 2005 celebration. The report was based on 2004 recommendations and contained proposed changes for 2006.
The report is generally favorable of the changes implemented in 2005, such as the use of fencing and stadium lighting. And many of the recommendations for 2006 are simply an expansion of those changes.
The main improvement recommended is a general increase in the amount of officers available, especially since this year's Halloween falls on a football home-game weekend.
Despite the favorable report, some city officials remain less than pleased with the event.
Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9, said Halloween remains 'a major problem waiting to explode.'
'We have an event which is an unsanctioned private party,' Skidmore said. 'It costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to police.'
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz also remains unsatisfied with how the event is currently conducted.
'He's still not happy with any of it that ends in the use of teargas,' said George Twigg, spokesman for the mayor.
However, the mayor does feel the event has improved, Twigg said.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, is supportive of Halloween in general. But he also cited the event's unpredictability.
'There's no one responsible, no one that can help plan the event and participate in it, so it's a crapshoot,' King said.
The perception of Halloween as a crapshoot, which was also how Skidmore described the party, has led to a number of ideas being generated to improve planning for the event.
The main suggestion currently under discussion is for a sponsoring body to manage the event. That, according to the supporters of supervision, would help bring Halloween under control.
The idea has found favor among city officials, and both proponents and detractors of the annual celebration see the benefits of such an arrangement.
'I'd prefer that there were a private sponsor that would post a bond and pay for security and safety,' said Skidmore.
King also approved of such a plan, saying that some group should host the event, and 'have the city embrace their hosting of it, with private security as well as police, and maybe a small entry fee.'
Such a plan is a possibility for the future of Halloween. Additionally, while questioning the feasibility, Twigg said the mayor is prepared to look at the celebration as a ticketed event.
However, Twigg said, 'We've got a long time before next Halloween.'
